Cheap Flights to Vietnam from the UK

Kayak's summer 2026 research for UK travellers found that eight of the ten most trending outbound destinations were long-haul, with Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Denpasar and Shanghai among the cities seeing the biggest year-on-year jumps in flight searches. Expedia's winter outlook also named Phu Quoc, Vietnam's largest island, as a rising winter sun choice, with searches up around 80 percent.

Vietnam offers a lot for a long-haul trip: a long, varied coastline, lively cities, mountain scenery in the north, some of the best street food in Asia, and prices that stretch a budget further than in most of Europe. It also suits many trip lengths, from a focused ten days in the north to a three-week journey from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City.

Hanoi, in the north, is the capital, with an atmospheric old quarter, lakes, French colonial architecture and easy access to Ha Long Bay and Ninh Binh. Ho Chi Minh City, in the south, is a bigger, busier and more modern city with war museums, markets and the Mekong Delta on its doorstep.

The best way to see both is an open-jaw ticket, flying into one and out of the other, and travelling the length of the country by train, bus or low-cost domestic flight. This avoids backtracking and often costs about the same as a return. Our Ho Chi Minh City guide covers the south in detail, and our guide to multi-city versus round-trip tickets explains how to compare.

Vietnam is long and its weather varies by region. The north has cool, drizzly winters and hot, humid summers, with spring and autumn the most comfortable. The south is hot all year, with a dry season from about December to April and a wet season from May to November. The central coast has typhoon risk from roughly September to November.

For a trip combining north and south, spring, from March to April, and autumn, around October, are often the best compromise. For beach time on Phu Quoc, November to April is the usual dry season. Match your dates to the regions you most want to see.

A popular ten-day plan starts in Hanoi with three nights in the old quarter and a day or overnight trip to Ha Long Bay or Ninh Binh. From there, fly or take the train to Da Nang for Hoi An's lantern-lit old town, spending three nights on the central coast. Finish with three or four nights in Ho Chi Minh City, with a day trip to the Mekong Delta or the Cu Chi tunnels.

This route works best with an open-jaw ticket, flying into Hanoi and home from Ho Chi Minh City, and it uses short domestic flights to save time. With extra days, add a beach stay on Phu Quoc at the end.

British passport holders have been able to visit Vietnam without a visa for stays of up to 45 days, but rules have changed several times in recent years, so check the Vietnamese embassy and UK government sites before you book. Your passport should have at least six months' validity.

If you want to stay longer, or are combining Vietnam with neighbouring countries, check each country's rules. Our guide to transit visa rules is useful if you change planes in another country.

Vietnam is seven hours ahead of the UK in winter and six hours ahead in summer, so jet lag can be noticeable. Try to sleep on the overnight leg, get daylight on arrival and keep the first day light. Many travellers find that it takes two or three days to adjust.

Drink water on the flight, avoid heavy meals before landing and resist a long afternoon nap on arrival. Booking a comfortable hotel for the first night makes the arrival much easier.

The Vietnamese dong is the local currency, and amounts look large because of the number of zeros. Cards are accepted in hotels and larger restaurants, but cash is needed for street food, markets and taxis. ATMs are widely available, though they usually charge a fee and set a limit per withdrawal.

Costs are generally low by British standards, particularly for food and local transport. Choose to pay in dong when using a card, and use a card without foreign transaction fees. Tipping is appreciated but not expected.

Vietnam's food is a highlight in itself. Look for pho in Hanoi, banh mi sandwiches, bun cha, fresh spring rolls, cao lau in Hoi An and rich coffee served with condensed milk. Street food is generally safe if you choose busy stalls where the food is cooked in front of you.

A food tour in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City is a good way to try many dishes on your first day. If you have dietary requirements, learn a few key phrases, and use translation apps for menus.

Long-haul fares to Vietnam normally include a hold bag, but domestic flights inside the country often allow much less, so check the allowance before you book each leg. If you plan to hop between Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, packing in a cabin bag saves fees and waiting time.

Our comparison of basic and standard fares shows what each tier includes, and carry-on size rules helps you pack for domestic legs.

With a long outbound flight and domestic hops inside Vietnam, one delay can knock out several bookings. Leave a generous buffer before any international departure, and keep internal flights on a single ticket where possible. Our guide to delay and cancellation rights covers what UK rules can mean.

Insurance with strong medical cover is essential in Vietnam, and check that it covers motorbike riding if you plan it, because many policies exclude it.

Pack light, breathable clothing, a lightweight rain jacket, comfortable walking shoes and modest outfits for temples and pagodas. A small day bag, a power adapter and a portable charger are useful, and a reusable water bottle with a filter saves money. Keep copies of your passport and insurance details separately, and tell your bank you are travelling so your card is not blocked.